All photos were taken on full automatic mode at the maximum available resolution. Although every phone was held at the same distance from the scene, each phone has a different focal length, so some (particularly the Galaxy S4) look rather more zoomed in. Not every phone is represented in every slide -- the Lumia doesn't have an HDR mode, for example, and the old HTC One corrupted some of its images.

Click through the gallery above to see the HTC One M8's attempts at each scene. Below each pic, you'll see links to see the full-size, non-cropped version of its photos, along with the comparisons from its rivals.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

While the colour was more natural here, the M8 didn't achieve as even an exposure. Compare the iPhone 5S's shot, which more clearly captured the dramatic grey clouds behind the trees. Only having 4 megapixels also means it lacks the full-screen detail offered by the iPhone, Galaxy S4 or Lumia 1020.

Editors' Rating

The M8 came out on top in terms of exposure and colour balance here. The iPhone 5S had an unusual orangey tint and seemed a little over-exposed.

On the downside, the 4-megapixel sensor again means that there's little clarity when you zoom in. For Facebook snaps, this will be fine, but if you want to crop into an image, 4 megapixels won't be enough.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

A disappointing effort from the M8 here. It has only exposed for the dark brickwork beneath the bridge. That part of the shot is more easily visible than in the iPhone's shot, but the rich blue sky is completely washed out.

Note that I tapped to focus and meter in the centre of the image under the bridge on all phones, so all of them were exposing for the same part of the scene.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

Turning HDR mode on didn't help matters. Although it's made the brickwork brighter, it's done nothing to rescue the bright sky. The iPhone 5S managed to maintain a rich sky, while the older HTC One did a fair job at keeping the sky under control and still showing plenty of detail in the brickwork.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

There's an automatic sweep panorama mode on board that's very easy to use. It was able to capture this great shot in West London. Colour balance and exposure look good and there are very few stitching errors.

The iPhone 5S's version is great too, with slightly warmer colours and more vertical information recorded as the phone is held in portrait mode as you sweep it around.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

The One M8 can take a 360-degree photo, as well as a panorama. It captures everything around where you stand, by piecing together lots of individual photos. It takes a while to do and requires you to spin on the spot, but the result looks great.

Once captured, you can move the phone around you and the scene will pan around on the screen, exactly as though you were stood there.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

Moving indoors, the One M8 had a decent exposure in this very poorly lit portrait scene, but it's seriously lacking in quality and sharpness. The Nokia Lumia 1020 achieved the best shot here, while the S4's attempt was barely even visible.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

These low-light objects were easily visible on the One M8's shot (the S4's was again extremely dark). It lacked clarity however, which is particularly visible in the text on the red box of Oxo cubes. It was much sharper on the iPhone 5S.

Editors' Rating

Typical Price:$699.00

See manufacturer website for availability.

Unsurprisingly, all images looked better with the flash turned on. The One M8's shot was the darkest, with the Muse album difficult to make out in the background. Colours were a little drab as well, although I was pleased that there isn't any major glare from the flash on any of the objects.

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